Replaceable clip cartridge for a clip applier

Abstract

A surgical device for clipping tissue can include a replaceable cartridge comprising a stack of clips contained therein and a firing drive configured to reciprocatingly eject, or deploy, the clips from the cartridge. The cartridge and/or the surgical device can include a firing chamber wherein the clips can be sequentially pushed into the firing chamber along a supply axis. The firing drive can include a firing member which is moved along a firing axis to deploy a clip positioned in the firing chamber wherein the supply axis can be transverse to the firing axis.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A clip applier for clipping tissue, comprising:
 a shaft, wherein said shaft defines a longitudinal axis, said shaft comprising:
 a distal portion; 
 a distal opening defined in said distal portion; and 
 a magazine opening; 
 
 a magazine assembly removably positionable in said magazine opening, wherein said magazine assembly comprises:
 a housing comprising an enclosing wall; 
 a storage chamber defined in said housing; 
 a firing platform; 
 a stack of clips removably positioned within said storage chamber, wherein each said clip comprises a drive end positioned adjacent to a drive end of another said clip, wherein each said clip comprises a biasing face, and wherein said stack of clips is stacked transverse to said longitudinal axis; and 
 a biasing member configured to bias said clips toward said firing platform, wherein said biasing member is positioned intermediate said enclosing wall and said biasing faces of said clips, and wherein said biasing member is entirely contained within said storage chamber of said housing; and 
 
 a firing drive configured to advance a said clip from said magazine assembly through said distal opening, wherein said firing drive is configured to sequentially engage said drive ends of said clips. 
 
     
     
       2. The clip applier of  claim 1 , wherein said shaft further comprises:
 a proximal portion; and 
 an articulation joint rotatably connecting said proximal portion and said distal portion of said shaft. 
 
     
     
       3. The clip applier of  claim 1 , wherein said magazine assembly further comprises a pusher plate positioned intermediate said biasing member and said stack of clips. 
     
     
       4. The clip applier of  claim 1 , wherein said housing further comprises a proximal housing wall including a proximal opening, and wherein said proximal opening is configured to receive said firing drive. 
     
     
       5. The clip applier of  claim 4 , further comprising a lockout plate positioned intermediate said biasing member and said stack of clips, wherein said biasing member is configured to bias said lockout plate into alignment with said proximal opening to block said firing drive from entering into said storage chamber after said clips have been ejected from said magazine assembly. 
     
     
       6. The clip applier of  claim 5 , wherein said lockout plate comprises a plurality of guides, and wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of co-operating guides configured to co-operate with said lockout plate guides to define the movement of said lockout plate along a predetermined path. 
     
     
       7. The clip applier of  claim 5 , wherein said housing further comprises a distal housing wall including a distal opening, wherein said firing platform comprises a shelf, wherein said biasing member is configured to bias a said clip against said shelf, and wherein said shelf is aligned with said distal opening of said distal housing wall. 
     
     
       8. The clip applier of  claim 1 , further comprising a first jaw and a second jaw positioned relative to said distal opening, wherein said first jaw is movable toward said second jaw to deform a said clip positioned intermediate said first jaw and said second jaw. 
     
     
       9. The clip applier of  claim 8 , further comprising a crimping drive configured to move said first jaw toward said second jaw, wherein said crimping drive is configured to be actuated in sequence with said firing drive. 
     
     
       10. The clip applier of  claim 1 , further comprising means for blocking said firing drive after said clips have been ejected from said magazine assembly. 
     
     
       11. The clip applier of  claim 1 , wherein said firing drive is configured to enter into said housing along a firing axis, wherein said biasing member is configured to bias a said clip into a firing position along a supply axis, and wherein said supply axis is transverse to said firing axis. 
     
     
       12. The clip applier of  claim 11 , wherein said supply axis is perpendicular to said firing axis. 
     
     
       13. The clip applier of  claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge lock configured to releasably hold said magazine assembly in said magazine opening. 
     
     
       14. A clip applier surgical instrument, comprising:
 a shaft, wherein said shaft defines a longitudinal axis, said shaft comprising:
 a distal portion; and 
 a cartridge receptacle; 
 
 a cartridge assembly removably positionable in said cartridge receptacle, wherein said cartridge assembly comprises:
 a housing comprising an enclosing wall; 
 a storage chamber defined in said housing; 
 a discharge opening; 
 a stack of clips removably positioned within said storage chamber, wherein said stack of clips comprises a plurality of clips stacked on top of one another along a stack axis which is transverse to said longitudinal axis; and 
 a biasing member configured to align a said clip with said discharge opening, wherein said biasing member is positioned intermediate said enclosing wall and said stack of clips, and wherein said biasing member is entirely contained within said storage chamber of said housing; and 
 
 a firing drive configured to advance a said clip from said cartridge assembly through said discharge opening. 
 
     
     
       15. The clip applier surgical instrument of  claim 14 , wherein said shaft further comprises:
 a proximal portion; and 
 an articulation joint rotatably connecting said proximal portion and said distal portion of said shaft. 
 
     
     
       16. The clip applier surgical instrument of  claim 14 , further comprising a lockout plate positioned intermediate said biasing member and said stack of clips, wherein said housing further comprises a proximal housing wall including a proximal opening, wherein said proximal opening is configured to receive said firing drive, and wherein said biasing member is configured to bias said lockout plate into alignment with said proximal opening to block said firing drive from entering into said storage chamber after said plurality of clips have been ejected from said cartridge assembly. 
     
     
       17. The clip applier surgical instrument of  claim 16 , wherein said lockout plate comprises a plurality of guides, and wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of co-operating guides configured to co-operate with said lockout plate guides to define the movement of said lockout plate along a predetermined path. 
     
     
       18. The clip applier surgical instrument of  claim 16 , wherein said housing further comprises a shelf, wherein said biasing member is configured to bias a said clip against said shelf, and wherein said shelf is aligned with said discharge opening. 
     
     
       19. The clip applier surgical instrument of  claim 14 , wherein said firing drive is configured to enter into said housing along a firing axis, wherein said biasing member is configured to bias a said clip into a firing position along a supply axis, and wherein said supply axis is transverse to said firing axis. 
     
     
       20. A surgical device for applying clips, comprising:
 a shaft, wherein said shaft defines a longitudinal axis, said shaft comprising:
 a distal portion; 
 a loading port defined in said distal portion; and 
 a discharge opening; 
 
 a clip cartridge removably positionable in said loading port, wherein said clip cartridge comprises:
 a housing; 
 a stack of clips, wherein said stack of clips are stacked in a direction which is transverse to said longitudinal axis; 
 a biasing member configured to align a said clip with said discharge opening, wherein said biasing member is entirely contained within said housing; and 
 
 a firing drive configured to advance a said clip from said clip cartridge through said discharge opening. 
 
     
     
       21. A clip applier for clipping tissue, comprising:
 a shaft, wherein said shaft defines a longitudinal axis, said shaft comprising:
 a distal portion; 
 a receiving cavity defined in said distal portion; and 
 a cartridge aperture; 
 
 a cartridge assembly removably positionable in said cartridge aperture, wherein said cartridge assembly comprises:
 a housing comprising an enclosing wall; 
 a storage chamber defined in said housing; 
 a plate positioned parallel to said enclosing wall; 
 a firing platform; 
 a stack of clips removably positioned within said storage chamber, wherein said stack of clips is stacked along a stack axis which is transverse to said longitudinal axis; and 
 a biasing member positioned intermediate said enclosing wall and said plate, wherein said biasing member applies a biasing force to said enclosing wall and said plate to bias said stack of clips against said firing platform, and wherein said biasing member is entirely contained within said storage chamber of said housing; and 
 
 a firing drive configured to advance a said clip from said cartridge assembly to said receiving cavity.